Pianotech

Ran across this "beast" the other day. (really old piano, "new" action encounter for me)  Hope some of you folks that have been at this a bit longer than I can offer some advise and/or tips to regulating this thing.

 Historicity: School district acquired this piano as a donation from local church.  1883 Chickering - (approx. 6' 8")   This instrument is currently residing in the choir room at one of the district high schools, accompanist is having some issues with the touch/feel/repetition of this dude.  (Probably because she has been playing on a 1976 KG5C in the theater at this school, and a '74 Kawai KG 2C at another high school.) 

See attached photos and short video. 

Money has been allocated for regulation - Sooooo how does one go about regulating this particular action.  Or would it be wiser/less frustrating/financially prudent to use allocated money to regulate the 1924 Baldwin K (rebuilt 20+ years ago: Pinblock, pins strings action) which has been the choir room piano prior to the arrival of Mr. Chickering.

Thanks for any and all input.

Chickerings are a challenge. First you must complete all repair work.

Ran across this "beast" the other day. (really old piano, "new" action encounter for me)  Hope some of you folks that have been at this a bit longer than I can offer some advise and/or tips to regulating this thing.

 Historicity: School district acquired this piano as a donation from local church.  1883 Chickering - (approx. 6' 8")   This instrument is currently residing in the choir room at one of the district high schools, accompanist is having some issues with the touch/feel/repetition of this dude.  (Probably because she has been playing on a 1976 KG5C in the theater at this school, and a '74 Kawai KG 2C at another high school.) 

See attached photos and short video. 

Money has been allocated for regulation - Sooooo how does one go about regulating this particular action.  Or would it be wiser/less frustrating/financially prudent to use allocated money to regulate the 1924 Baldwin K (rebuilt 20+ years ago: Pinblock, pins strings action) which has been the choir room piano prior to the arrival of Mr. Chickering.

Thanks for any and all input.

I think that belongs in a museum rather than an educational institution, you're better off putting the resources into the Baldwin that's only 100 years old. Sheesh. Even the Kawai's are pushing 50. 

Chickerings are a challenge. First you must complete all repair work.

Ran across this "beast" the other day. (really old piano, "new" action encounter for me)  Hope some of you folks that have been at this a bit longer than I can offer some advise and/or tips to regulating this thing.

 Historicity: School district acquired this piano as a donation from local church.  1883 Chickering - (approx. 6' 8")   This instrument is currently residing in the choir room at one of the district high schools, accompanist is having some issues with the touch/feel/repetition of this dude.  (Probably because she has been playing on a 1976 KG5C in the theater at this school, and a '74 Kawai KG 2C at another high school.) 

See attached photos and short video. 

Money has been allocated for regulation - Sooooo how does one go about regulating this particular action.  Or would it be wiser/less frustrating/financially prudent to use allocated money to regulate the 1924 Baldwin K (rebuilt 20+ years ago: Pinblock, pins strings action) which has been the choir room piano prior to the arrival of Mr. Chickering.

Thanks for any and all input.

Ran across this "beast" the other day. (really old piano, "new" action encounter for me)  Hope some of you folks that have been at this a bit longer than I can offer some advise and/or tips to regulating this thing.

 Historicity: School district acquired this piano as a donation from local church.  1883 Chickering - (approx. 6' 8")   This instrument is currently residing in the choir room at one of the district high schools, accompanist is having some issues with the touch/feel/repetition of this dude.  (Probably because she has been playing on a 1976 KG5C in the theater at this school, and a '74 Kawai KG 2C at another high school.) 

See attached photos and short video. 

Money has been allocated for regulation - Sooooo how does one go about regulating this particular action.  Or would it be wiser/less frustrating/financially prudent to use allocated money to regulate the 1924 Baldwin K (rebuilt 20+ years ago: Pinblock, pins strings action) which has been the choir room piano prior to the arrival of Mr. Chickering.

Thanks for any and all input.

Ran across this "beast" the other day. (really old piano, "new" action encounter for me)  Hope some of you folks that have been at this a bit longer than I can offer some advise and/or tips to regulating this thing.

 Historicity: School district acquired this piano as a donation from local church.  1883 Chickering - (approx. 6' 8")   This instrument is currently residing in the choir room at one of the district high schools, accompanist is having some issues with the touch/feel/repetition of this dude.  (Probably because she has been playing on a 1976 KG5C in the theater at this school, and a '74 Kawai KG 2C at another high school.) 

See attached photos and short video. 

Money has been allocated for regulation - Sooooo how does one go about regulating this particular action.  Or would it be wiser/less frustrating/financially prudent to use allocated money to regulate the 1924 Baldwin K (rebuilt 20+ years ago: Pinblock, pins strings action) which has been the choir room piano prior to the arrival of Mr. Chickering.

Thanks for any and all input.

See this video for performance capacities of the Brown action: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKM58jz9NHw>

Search YouTube "Chickering Brown Action Piano" for videos demonstrating function and regulation of the Brown action.

Your photos seem to show an action in good condition. You may want to consider keeping it, maybe even enjoying it. 

Ran across this "beast" the other day. (really old piano, "new" action encounter for me)  Hope some of you folks that have been at this a bit longer than I can offer some advise and/or tips to regulating this thing.

 Historicity: School district acquired this piano as a donation from local church.  1883 Chickering - (approx. 6' 8")   This instrument is currently residing in the choir room at one of the district high schools, accompanist is having some issues with the touch/feel/repetition of this dude.  (Probably because she has been playing on a 1976 KG5C in the theater at this school, and a '74 Kawai KG 2C at another high school.) 

See attached photos and short video. 

Money has been allocated for regulation - Sooooo how does one go about regulating this particular action.  Or would it be wiser/less frustrating/financially prudent to use allocated money to regulate the 1924 Baldwin K (rebuilt 20+ years ago: Pinblock, pins strings action) which has been the choir room piano prior to the arrival of Mr. Chickering.

Thanks for any and all input.

See this video for performance capacities of the Brown action: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKM58jz9NHw>

Search YouTube "Chickering Brown Action Piano" for videos demonstrating function and regulation of the Brown action.

Your photos seem to show an action in good condition. You may want to consider keeping it, maybe even enjoying it. 

Ran across this "beast" the other day. (really old piano, "new" action encounter for me)  Hope some of you folks that have been at this a bit longer than I can offer some advise and/or tips to regulating this thing.

 Historicity: School district acquired this piano as a donation from local church.  1883 Chickering - (approx. 6' 8")   This instrument is currently residing in the choir room at one of the district high schools, accompanist is having some issues with the touch/feel/repetition of this dude.  (Probably because she has been playing on a 1976 KG5C in the theater at this school, and a '74 Kawai KG 2C at another high school.) 

See attached photos and short video. 

Money has been allocated for regulation - Sooooo how does one go about regulating this particular action.  Or would it be wiser/less frustrating/financially prudent to use allocated money to regulate the 1924 Baldwin K (rebuilt 20+ years ago: Pinblock, pins strings action) which has been the choir room piano prior to the arrival of Mr. Chickering.

Thanks for any and all input.

Ran across this "beast" the other day. (really old piano, "new" action encounter for me)  Hope some of you folks that have been at this a bit longer than I can offer some advise and/or tips to regulating this thing.

 Historicity: School district acquired this piano as a donation from local church.  1883 Chickering - (approx. 6' 8")   This instrument is currently residing in the choir room at one of the district high schools, accompanist is having some issues with the touch/feel/repetition of this dude.  (Probably because she has been playing on a 1976 KG5C in the theater at this school, and a '74 Kawai KG 2C at another high school.) 

See attached photos and short video. 

Money has been allocated for regulation - Sooooo how does one go about regulating this particular action.  Or would it be wiser/less frustrating/financially prudent to use allocated money to regulate the 1924 Baldwin K (rebuilt 20+ years ago: Pinblock, pins strings action) which has been the choir room piano prior to the arrival of Mr. Chickering.

Thanks for any and all input.

I am interested in knowing the serial number, scale which may be in raised letters/numbers etc. Its definitely a Brown Action and something that Brown brought to the Chickering factory when he became employed there. There are a few pages on the Brown Action in the small Tuners Companion/Guide available from Schaff. A technician from West Virginia went to Peru to work on a Brown Action Chickering , installed new bass strings. You can send me a message and I will give you his name and contact information. The action looks pretty good and hammer felt is new.

I bet the piano has an interesting background and I can let you know where it was first shipped from the factory . It would have been built in the Boston factory at 791 Tremont Street Boston. I know of one Brown action Chickering that in Greenwood, SC. It may take some time to get it right but I understand if it is regulated properly the action is quite responsive . You are also inheriting what was done and not done from the rebuild that was done

Ran across this "beast" the other day. (really old piano, "new" action encounter for me)  Hope some of you folks that have been at this a bit longer than I can offer some advise and/or tips to regulating this thing.

 Historicity: School district acquired this piano as a donation from local church.  1883 Chickering - (approx. 6' 8")   This instrument is currently residing in the choir room at one of the district high schools, accompanist is having some issues with the touch/feel/repetition of this dude.  (Probably because she has been playing on a 1976 KG5C in the theater at this school, and a '74 Kawai KG 2C at another high school.) 

See attached photos and short video. 

Money has been allocated for regulation - Sooooo how does one go about regulating this particular action.  Or would it be wiser/less frustrating/financially prudent to use allocated money to regulate the 1924 Baldwin K (rebuilt 20+ years ago: Pinblock, pins strings action) which has been the choir room piano prior to the arrival of Mr. Chickering.

Thanks for any and all input.

This sounds like a great Journal topic. Anyone want to put something together?

Sound like we have a good source of photos if the OP's piano stays where it is. Not sure if the Journal has published anything on the subject--I'll have to search after the day's tunings.

I am interested in knowing the serial number, scale which may be in raised letters/numbers etc. Its definitely a Brown Action and something that Brown brought to the Chickering factory when he became employed there. There are a few pages on the Brown Action in the small Tuners Companion/Guide available from Schaff. A technician from West Virginia went to Peru to work on a Brown Action Chickering , installed new bass strings. You can send me a message and I will give you his name and contact information. The action looks pretty good and hammer felt is new.

I bet the piano has an interesting background and I can let you know where it was first shipped from the factory . It would have been built in the Boston factory at 791 Tremont Street Boston. I know of one Brown action Chickering that in Greenwood, SC. It may take some time to get it right but I understand if it is regulated properly the action is quite responsive . You are also inheriting what was done and not done from the rebuild that was done

Ran across this "beast" the other day. (really old piano, "new" action encounter for me)  Hope some of you folks that have been at this a bit longer than I can offer some advise and/or tips to regulating this thing.

 Historicity: School district acquired this piano as a donation from local church.  1883 Chickering - (approx. 6' 8")   This instrument is currently residing in the choir room at one of the district high schools, accompanist is having some issues with the touch/feel/repetition of this dude.  (Probably because she has been playing on a 1976 KG5C in the theater at this school, and a '74 Kawai KG 2C at another high school.) 

See attached photos and short video. 

Money has been allocated for regulation - Sooooo how does one go about regulating this particular action.  Or would it be wiser/less frustrating/financially prudent to use allocated money to regulate the 1924 Baldwin K (rebuilt 20+ years ago: Pinblock, pins strings action) which has been the choir room piano prior to the arrival of Mr. Chickering.

Thanks for any and all input.